Water discharge unit for pump installations



1961 E. R. ORTMAN 3,011,553

WATER DISCHARGE UNIT FOR PUMP INSTALLATIONS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 15, 1959 INVENTOR EARL R. ORTMAN AT TORN EY s Dec. 5, 1961 E. R. ORTMAN WATER DISCHARGE UNIT FOR PUMP INSTALLATIONS Filed Oct. 15, 1959 2& 56 F1 5:,

II II 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 'uw l (1) II I l -52? 53 INVENTOR EARL R. ORTMAQJ BY e ATTORNEYS United States This invention appertains to wells and pumps and more particularly to well installations embodying a submergible pump and of the type in which the digging of a pit and the cutting into the side of a well below grade is eliminated.

One of the primary objects of my invention is to provide an above-ground water discharge unit, so constructed and arranged in the well casing, that various parts can be quickly pulled from the well casing and water discharge pipe by the mere taking apart of certain connections located at the exterior of the well casing and above ground and in which all parts can be installed without cutting into the ground below grade along side of the well casing.

Another salient object of my invention is the provision of means for insuring proper drainage of the water from the well pipe back into the well to prevent freezing, without danger of siphoning the water stored in the supply tank back into the well.

A further important object of my invention is to provide means operable in connection with the antifreeze device for insuring the delivery of a correct amount of air for a certain sized pressure tank on each run of the pump, whereby to effectively eliminate a water logged pressure supply tank or an air bound tank and the difiiculties contingent therewith.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an air charger located in the well casing and disposed in the length of the flow or discharge pipe of the pump having a non-clogging air vent opening and a vent valve actuated by water flow for opening and closing the air vent.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a check valve for the water flow pipe located a predetermined distance above the vent valve and in a certain position relative to the water drainage device, whereby to not only permit the effective draining of the Water back into the well, but also to insure the proper air charging of the water supply or storage tank.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and forma tion of parts, as will be hereinafter more specifically described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through a well casing showing my improved unit incorporated therewith and with a water supply or storage tank;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged detail longitudinal sectional atent O P water level.

view through the well pipe showing my novel unit incorporated therewith;

FIGURE 3 is a detail longitudinal sectional view through the housing member for the float controlled valve;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged detail horizontal sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 2, looking in the direction of the arrows, illustrating a part of the installation for the water drainage or antifreezing device, and

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged detail horizontal sectional view taken on the line 55 of FIGURE 2, looking in the direction of the arrows, illustrating details of construction of the vent valve for the air charger..

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding 'parts 3,011,553 Patented Dec. 5, 1961 throughout the several views, the letter U generally indicates my novel above-ground water discharge unit and air charger. The unit U is received within a well casing 10 and this well casing is inserted in the well hole at the time of the drilling of the well. The casing 10 extends above the ground and the upper end thereof is closed by a removable cap 11.

My improved unit U is located above and communicates with the water flow pipe 12 leading from a pump (not shown), submerged in the water in the well casing, and the unit U and associate parts are located above the For the purpose of the understanding of this invention, the water supply pipe 12 may be considered as including a lower section 13 leading from the pump and an upper section 14 leading out of the well casing and having a connection with a water supply or storage tank 15. The tank 25, has been shown above ground and adjacent to the well, but it is to' be understood that in actual practice, the tank 15 can be located within a building and above or below grade. As illustrated, the tank 15 is also provided with the usual outlet service line pipe 16 and a pressure relief valve 17.

The unit U includes a housing 18 embodying a central housing section 19 in the nature of a sleeve or pipe section of a desired diameter. The lower end of section 19 is connected by threads or the like to a lower head or coupling 20 having an eccentrically disposed threaded opening 21. This opening 21 has threaded therein a depending pipe nipple 22 which is, in turn, connected with the casing 23 of a check valve 24. The lower end of the casing 23 is in turn connected by a nipple 25, with the casing or T-cou-pling 26. This T-coupling 26 has its lower arm connected with the lower well pipe section 13. 'The laterally extending arm of the T-coupling or casing 26 is closed by a removable plug 27 having formed therein an air vent opening 28. The plug 27 carries the water operated vent valve 29, so that upon removal of the plug 27, the valve will be carried therewith. This valve and its function will be later'set forth.

The section 19 of the casing '18 has connected with its upper end a reducing coupling 30, which is in turn, connected with the upper section 14 of the flow pipe. Now, referring to FIGURE 1, it can be seen that the section 14 extends through a boss 31 formed on the cap '11, and can be secured to the boss in different manners, such as by set screws, not shown. The well flow pipe section 14 preferably extends a considerable distance above the cap L1, and the upper end of the pipe section 14 is connected by an L-couplin-g 3 2 with various pipe sections 33 leading to the upper end of the tank '15. For the moment, it can be seen that upon the operation of the pump, water will flow through pipe section 13 past the valve 29 and check valve 24, through casing '18, pipe section 14 and into the tank 15. As stated, the valve 24 is of the check valve type and hence it can be seen that this check valve, upon the stopping of the pump, will hold the water in the well pipe and that this Water would be subjected to freezing during the winter season.

Hence, in accordance with my invention, I arrange within the casing 18, a supporting spider 34 for a pump float housing 35. The supporting spider 34 is spaced from the side of the housing 18 .by radially extending spider lugs 36 and in order to prevent accidental displacement of the spider, fastening screws 37 can be threaded through the housing wall 19 and into the lugs. Threaded into the spider 34 is the lower end of the float housing 35. The float housing includes an elongated sleeve body section 38 and a bottom closure plug 39. The closure plug 39 is provided with an axial Way 40, and a preferred valve seat 41. The closure plug 39 is freely removable to permitcleaning and renewing of the valve seat 41. Arranged within the housing 35 is a hollow float 42 and the lower end of this float carries a depending valve 43 of the needle type for closing the passageway 40 when water has been drained from the drop pipe section 14. The valve 43 can be provided with a depending guide stem slidably fitted in the passageway 40. The sole function of the stem is to act as a guide to facilitate the seating of the valve 43 and water flows around the stem freely and through the pets sageway 40 when the valve is in its raised position. Again, at this time, it is to be noted that water can flow around the spider 34 from the lower well flow pipe section 13 to the upper drop well section 14. Communication is had at spaced points between the section 14 and the float housing 38 by means of openings 44 formed in the float housing. The spider 34 has formed in its lower wall at one side of its axial center a water by-pass drain opening 45 and connected to the wall of this opening by a nipple 46 is a bypass drain pipe 47. The lower end of the bypass drain pipe 47 is connected with the check valve casing 23 below the check valve 24 by a nipple 48. The by-pass drain pipe'47 extends through the lower wall of the bottom head 20 and a suitable Packing nipple 49 can be provided around the pipe 47 so as to prevent leakage of water between the head and the drain pipe 47. In view of the fact that the connecting nipple 22 is eccentrically disposed relative to the axis of the head 20 sufflcient room is left at one side of the nipple and adjacent parts for the reception of the drain pipe and so that the drain pipe will not rub against or contact the well casing Now referring to the check valve 24 it can be seen that the same is of the poppet or flat type and that the same is normally held in a closed position by a spring 50. Hence, when water flow ceases, the check valve automatically seats. Now referring to the vent valve 29, the same is of a special construction and includes a bellcrank shaped body 51. This body is rocka'bly mounted at its angle on a pivot pin 52 carried by the plug 27. The outer arm 53 of the body forms the valve proper and is adapted to move toward and away from the vent opening 28. The main portion of the body lies within the casing 26 so as to be affected by upward water flow during the running of the pump and acts as a weight to hold the arm 53 away from the vent opening 28, when the pump is not in operation. The diameter of the body is considerably less than the interior diameter of the T coupling 26, hence water can drain down past the body into the well.v This main portion of the body is provided with a plurality of water passageways or openings 54. These openings are normally closed by a flat valve plate 55 held down by an expansion spring 56. Considering for a moment that the pump is in operation: upward flow of water through the pipe 13 will strike the main body portion and rock the bellcrank on its pivot, moving the foot or valve member proper over the vent opening 28, so as to close the same and upward flow of the water under pump pressure will raise the plate 55 and consequently, the water can flow freely past this vent valve. The valve automatically opens due to its weight and balance when water flow ceases.

In operation of my unit, and considering that the pump has been in operation, and the tank is filled to the desired level, and pump operation ceases, the check valve 24 holds the water in the pipe and the float 42 and its valve 43 will be in a raised position. To prevent freezing, the water will be slowly drained through the float housing 35 and the by-pass 47, and into the lower pipe section 13, and this slow flow of water will not affect the water in the tank 15.

When all water has been drained from the float housing 35, the float will lower and the valve 43 will fit on its seat. Air can enter the vent opening .28 and is trapped from upward movement through nipple 22 by the check valve 24. However, as vent opening 28 is open, the vacuum below the check valve is broken and in drain each operation of the pump, a desired quantity of air is supplied to the tank and the tank is prevented from becoming water logged.

It can be seen that I have provided a novel and simple means for preventing freezing of water in the pump drop pipe and that I have also provided means for the proper air charging of the tank 15.

Great stress is laid on the means employed for installing the unit U. If repairs are necessary to the valve 43 and its seat, it is merely necessary to remove the L 32 and to grasp the upper end of the float housing 38 and turn the same so as to unthread it from the spider. The entire unit can then be easily pulled. Obviously, the housing 35 and associate parts can be easily replaced after the desired cleaning and repairs have been made.

It also can be seen that the entire pump can be pulled by removing the cap 11.

Various changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit or the scope of this invention, but what I claim as new is:

1. In a water system of the type including a submergible pump, a pressure tank and a flow pipe connecting the pump with the pressure tank; a housing in the length of the pipe and above the water level of the well for free flow of water therethrough when the pump is in operation, a check valve in the length of said pipe below the housing and movable to a raised position for free water flow in an upward direction during the operation of the pump, and a by-pass drainage pipe communicating with the housing and with the flow pipe below the check valve, said by-pass being of a considerable less diameter than the flow pipe.

2. In a water system of the type including a submergible water pump, a pressure tank and a flow pipe leading from the pump to the pressure tank; a housing disposed in the length of the flow pipe, an upwardly opening check valve in the length of the pipe between the housing and the pump, said check valve being unseated by upward flow of water through the pipe during operation of the pump and said pipe having also in the lengththereof a predetermined distance below the check valve, a valve casing provided with an air vent, and a pivoted vent' valve arranged in said last mentioned valve casing having a weighted portion disposed in the path of the water flowing upward through the valve casing, whereby the flow of water will raise the weighted portion to move the vent valve over the vent opening to close the same, said vent opening being opened by the vent valve when the pump is not in operation by the weight of the body portion for permitting the entrance of air into the flow pipe below said check valve and the breaking of any vacuum in the pipe.

3. In a water system of the type including a submer' gible water pump, a pressure tank and a flow pipe leading from the pump to the pressure tank; a housing disposed in the length of said pipe, an upwardly opening check valve in said pipe between the housing and the pump, a valve casing in the length of said pipe below thecheck valve having an air vent opening therein, a gravity operated vent valve located in the casing for closing said vent opening during the upward flow of water through the pipe and said valve being movable by its weight to open the vent opening upon the ceasing of the upward flow of water through the pipe, a supporting spider in the housing arranged to permit the free flow of water through the housing, a float chamber secured to the spider and having its lower end closed and provided with a drain opening, a float in said chamber having a valve for closing the opening when the float is in a lowered position, a by-pass drain pipe communicating with the spider below the float chamber and with the flow pipe between the check valve and the valve for the air vent, said by-pass drain pipe permitting the drainage of water at a low rate from the housing into the flow pipe below the check valve, said float and its valve when in its lowered position, cutting off communication of air between the drainage pipe and the pressure tank.

4. In a water system, as defined in claim 3, and means for pulling the float chamber, the float, its valve and valve seat from the upper end of the flow pipe,

5. In a water system of the type including a Well casing, a cap for the upper end of the casing and disposed above the ground level, a submergible water pump, a pressure tank and a flow pipe leading from the pump through the head to the tank, said flow pipe above the cap including removable connections; a housing disposed in the length of said flow pipe, an upwardly opening check valve in thelength of said flow pipe below the housing, and said flow pipe also having in its length below the check valve a valve casing provided with an air vent opening, a gravity operated vent valve in said casing for opening and closing the vent opening, the valve being held in its open position by gravity and closed by water flowing through the pipe and housing and against the vent valve a supporting spider within said housing, a float chamber supported by said spider and extending through the flow pipe above the cap, whereby upon removal of theconnections of the flow pipe above the cap the chamber can be pulled from the flow pipe and from the spider, the lower end of said chamber being closed and provided with an opening, a float in said chamber having avalve adapted to close the last'mentioned opening when the float is in a lowered position, and a drain pipe connecting the spider with the flow pipe below the check valve for permitting the drainage of water into the flow pipe below the check valve at a slow rate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,190,102 Butcher July 4, 1916 2,580,198 Schmid Dec. 25, 1951 2,877,849 Morrison et a1. Mar. 17, 1959 2,917,113 Ortrnan Dec. 15, 1959 

